“I’m hoping they see mommy isn’t just a mom,” said Ashly. “Mommy's also a working professional in a community that she's impacting, you know, others and being a positive mentor [to] young females. So I'm hoping they take that vision that I have…[knowing] that they can accomplish anything when they put their mind to it.” Karina and Sofia also inspire their mom to be strong. Ashly’s high-risk pregnancy with the girls took a scary turn when she began to have contractions at just 24 weeks. With her faith and her medical team as her anchor, Ashly remained hospitalized for four weeks before birthing her daughters. Although they were 10 weeks premature, each weighing only 2.3 pounds, they’d held on in their mother’s womb until their lungs were mostly developed. Following their birth, they spent three months in the NICU with their mom at their side. “Through unwavering faith and the belief in God, I made a promise to invest in them wholeheartedly, just as they had fought for their own lives,” Ashly said. “It was the most difficult and frightening experience of my journey as a mother, but my daughters are my miracles, and I will forever cherish the strength they showed from the very beginning.” Parenthood naturally comes with challenges, but the teacher has remained dedicated to prioritizing her daughters while pursuing her passion for soccer. This looked like enlisting her community for help and bringing her girls to games. “At times, I was able to separate my coaching role while knowing my daughters were cared for, and at other times, they were right by my side, immersed in the experience,” Ashly said. “It was a journey of adaptation, resilience, and the power of community—something both motherhood and coaching have in common.” In line with this sentiment, the coach wants to ensure the team is connected to the Annapolis community. To build that bond, the Annapolis Blues are planning fun activities around the city, like a Watermark boat cruise, a scavenger hunt at local sponsors' businesses, and a team dinner. Kennedy’s goal is to create a family-like atmosphere where everyone feels part of something bigger. “More than just competition, this team fosters commitment, showing players they can achieve greatness and be part of making history in a city that already values sports,” she exclaimed. “Here, women’s soccer thrives—not just as a game but as a movement backed by belief, dedication, and an unwavering community spirit.” The Annapolis Blues Women’s Team will debut on Saturday, May 31 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for a game against Richmond Ivy. Visit annapolisblues.com to get your tickets. Sources: Annapolis Blues. n.d. "Annapolis Blues FC Welcome the Club's First Ever Women’s Team!" Annapolis Blues. Accessed January 30, 2025. https:// annapolisblues.com/womens-team.
“That championship season was the perfect culmination of hard work, growth, and perseverance,” Coach Kennedy reflected. “Watching a team of young athletes believe in their vision, fight for it without excuses, and ultimately achieve success was a defining moment in my coaching career.” Her first season with the Annapolis Blues will surely be just as pivotal. With 5,000 season ticket holders in 2024, Annapolis Blues audiences often include well over 8,000 fans. Coach Kennedy hopes the large platform will position her team members as positive role models for even the youngest fans. During the Annapolis Moms Media photoshoot, Kennedy received a sign that her hopes were becoming reality. The children and their parents wanted to savor the “cool” moment with personal photos and even an autographed item or two from the coach. Kennedy noted that talking to the girls came easy to her. She’s noticed there are some overlaps between coaching and motherhood. On January 26, the head coach, her assistant coaches, and the Annapolis Blues’ general managers cleared ice and snow from the field of the Indian Creek School. It was almost time. Several young women were lined up an hour early to try out for the Annapolis Blues’ new women’s team. After all, this was an unprecedented opportunity in Annapolis. After a brief introduction to the Annapolis Blues staff, Coach Kennedy encouraged more than 50 athletes in attendance to put their best feet forward. Off the field, where she’s known as ”mommy” and Ashly, she hopes to inspire her 11-year-old twin daughters Karina and Sofia Benitez to do the same.
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